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There are currently 35 member reviews
for The Prisoner's Wife
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Henry W. (Lake Barrington, IL)
Too much filler
Can you imagine the events described in this book occurring to the two main characters? Probably not. The story is built on a story passed on by an elderly POW camp survivor. Due to the lack of historical documentation much of the story is a product of the authors imagination and much is the insertion of tales of the activities which may or may not have taken place in POW camps. While the author clearly states the story is a novel, the content stretches for acceptance. The are far too many fortuitous events to gain plausibility. Some judicious editing would result in a shorter more enjoyable read.
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Florence K.
Prisoner's Wife
This book. based on true facts, could have been a riveting read. The plot is different, the characters well developed, the writing excellent. But it has a glaring fault: there is so much minutiae that the book becomes too long, too dragged out, and somewhat repetitive in its actions.
I kept thinking that frequently less is more, and less of this book with details and explanations, and more left to the intelligence/imagination of the reader would have made it a more compelling read.
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Deanna W. (Port Jefferson, NY)
Love& Survival
This historic fiction is based on a true story. It is set in Czechoslovakia in 1944. A Czech farm girl (Izabela) and a British soldier (Billl) are on the run but are caught by Nazi soldiers and sent to a POW camp. I usually enjoy 1st person narrative books but found this one slow and drawn out. However, I think it would make an compelling movie.
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Catharine L. (Petoskey, MI)
The Prisoner's Wife
3.5 I know I will be in the minority, but the book didn't hold my interest. I thought Izzy was spoiled and immature. I did enjoy the male characters. I've read a lot about WWII, but this novel I struggled to finish.
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Freya H. (Towanda, PA)
The Prisoner's Wife
All the ingredients are there to make this novel, inspired by true events, an excellent read. Unfortunately, with the exception of the bonds formed between the characters, and the devotion of husband and wife, I found the book difficult to get through. Perhaps the detail of the incarceration, the marching, constant hunger, and ill treatment was too much.
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Gail S. (Portland, OR)
Pretty Good Tale
The overall story, based loosely on a true event with well-researched details from the war and terrain added, was pretty compelling. I finished it in less than a week. But I don't think that the novel was a total success. It's hard to pinpoint why this is. Possibly it was the case that the author wanted to fit in all her research instead of letting the story unfurl itself from her imagination? But it is a difficult trick to convey a monotonous series of weeks and weeks in an Interesting manner, and this was managed fairly well with small events happening to ease the boredom of incarceration or marching. The characters were pretty well-developed and mostly believable (if a little cartoonish). The tension of the separation didn't work for me - it seemed contrived. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend, but it was an enjoyable enough read for me!
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Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA)
The Long March of The Prisoner's Wife
Reading The Prisoner's Wife was indeed a long march for me. Author Maggie Brookes has penned what might have been an engrossing novel. Sadly, this tale of risk, deception, and incredible hardships, lacked necessary ingredients to cause it to become a masterpiece. Inspired by a true story, the author researched the historic period and used first person narrative as the avenue for her writing. A bright spot was the depth of friendships formed and the threads of compassionate empathy that existed between the characters.
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